MSI Z170A motherboard not able to access integrated graphics?

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ththth

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Oct 12, 2016
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Recently assembled my very first desktop PC, and it works fine except so far I'm not able to use the integrated graphics.

The CPU I chose was i7-6700k, and the plan was to first use the Intel 530 integrated graphics for a little while, and then buy a dedicated GPU during Cyber Monday.

However, after assembling the PC, I realized this motherboard (MSI Z170A SLI LGA 1151) has no HDMI port. It does have USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C, which I believe has functionality to connect with certain displays.

First I tried booting with USB Type C to HDMI adapter, connected to my monitor via HDMI, however, there was no video signal. So I bought Nvidia GT 730 (which is weaker than the Intel 530 for many tasks) in order to proceed and install Windows.

Now I have tried updating drivers, but I still can't get the external monitor to work connected to motherboard's USB type C port (with Type C to HDMI adapter).

I have two questions:

1) Is there any possible way to force the system to use the stronger Intel 530 integrated graphics, even though my monitor is connected via the GT 730's HDMI port?

2) If not, is there some other way to connect to a monitor using the Type C port? (For example, buying monitor with DisplayPort or using Type C to Display Port adapter and then another Display Port to HDMI adapter?)
 
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T

ththth

Commendable
Oct 12, 2016
7
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1,510
After researching a bit, I wonder if the problem is that my monitor does not have any DisplayPort. For example, it seems there is upcoming a new feature called HDMI Alternative Mode for USB Type C


http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/HDMIAltModeUSBTypeC.aspx

The HDMI Alt Mode for USB Type-C connector will allow HDMI-enabled source devices to utilize a USB Type-C connector to directly connect to HDMI-enabled displays, and deliver native HDMI signals over a simple cable without the need for protocol and connector adapters or dongles.

This enables two of the most popular solutions for connectivity to come together—the small form factor, reversible, and multi-purpose USB Type-C connector being adopted by smartphones, tablets and PC products, and the HDMI connector, which is the leading display interface with an installed base of billions of displays. Almost 290 million HDMI-enabled display devices are expected to ship in 2016, including projectors, monitors and 100 percent of flat panel TVs.

HDMI Alt Mode will support the full range of HDMI 1.4b features such as:

Resolutions up to 4K
Surround sound
Audio Return Channel (ARC)
3D (4K and HD)
HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC)
Consumer Electronic Control (CEC)
Deep Color, x.v.Color, and content types
High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP 1.4 and HDCP 2.2)
It’s up to manufacturers to choose which HDMI features they support on their products with USB Type-C.
Click to expand...

USB-C-Supported-Devices_Large_no_type_at-top.png


Does this mean I need to update the firmware in my display to accept this? Or is it more likely a problem with my motherboard not supporting it yet?
 
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T

ththth

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Oct 12, 2016
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1,510
I suppose I've been studying every page of the manual as if it were the gospel but unfortunately can't find any information to answer either of these 2 questions.
 
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EpIckFa1LJoN

EpIckFa1LJoN

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Wow that's weird... surely they didn't bypass a way to use the integrated graphics...
Let me look and see if I can find anything.
 
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EpIckFa1LJoN

EpIckFa1LJoN

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Well it does look like they completely forgot about this, or didn't care to make sure there was a way to connect to onboard graphics.

Update the BIOS if you can, search through there and see if there is a way to use the USB-C as a graphics port.
There's gotta be a way to do it. Of course MSI probably assumed that no one would be buying an SLI board without a graphics card, but here we are.
The SLI Plus has graphics ports I really wonder why they didn't put at least one HDMI or something on the one you have...
 
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EpIckFa1LJoN

EpIckFa1LJoN

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Unfortunately your last resort is kind of an expensive option. For about $100 you can buy a PCI-e HDMI expansion card, but I have no idea if that will actually work for you either.

Go to a computer store and pick one up if it doesn't work return it. It's expensive but it's cheaper than buying a $400 graphics card. I assume you'll want a 1070 at least.

Your next best option is buying a 1060 3GB,
It'll be better than both the integrated graphics and the 700 series but it'll tun you over $200 and they don't use SLI so it'll be next to useless when you decide to upgrade.

I'd try the expansion card.
 
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T

ththth

Commendable
Oct 12, 2016
7
0
1,510
Thanks very much for your help!

Do you think it's possible the PCI-e HDMI card would utilize the HD 530 integrated graphics?

The plan was to buy a 1070 next month during Cyber Monday; hopefully, I can find a way to make do with integrated graphics until then.
 
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